Big Valley Brands, LLC, also known as Big Valley Air, announced Wednesday the company will invest $1.4 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Sequatchie County, which is categorized as an “economically distressed” county by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).
Big Valley Brands, LLC will invest nearly $1.5 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Tier 4, At-Risk Sequatchie County.
The high-performance parachute manufacturer will create 30 new jobs & construct a 17,000-square-foot facility in Dunlap. https://t.co/nVMVoMx7JM pic.twitter.com/Ds2y99lJKd
— TNECD (@TNECD) March 15, 2023
Big Valley Air, founded and headquartered in Dunlap, manufactures high-performance parachutes for sport jumpers and militaries throughout the world. The company’s expansion project consists of constructing a 17,000-square-foot facility at its existing operations on Little Ponderosa Trail in Dunlap to house all the company’s parachute manufacturing, according to TNECD.
The project will allow Big Valley Air to increase production and broaden its customer base. The company’s investment project is expected to create 30 new jobs in Sequatchie County, TNECD notes.
“As president and CEO of Big Valley Air, I am proud to say that we have not only created jobs, but we have also created opportunities for individuals to build their careers and contribute to the growth of our community,” Tim Rogers, president and CEO of Big Valley Air said in a statement. “We believe that investing in our workforce is investing in our company’s and community’s future. We are committed to providing our employees with the tools and resources they need to succeed.”
TNECD categorizes Sequatchie County as a Tier-4, At-Risk, economically distressed county, which is one ranking away from being classified as a distressed county – the worst rating. According to data by the department, the county’s poverty rate is 21.6 percent, while the three-year average unemployment rate stands at 5.4 percent. The county’s per capita market income is $26,796.
“I want to thank Big Valley Air for its commitment to Tennessee and the impact these new jobs will have on residents in Tier 4, At-Risk Sequatchie County,” TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter said in a statement.
Of the state’s 95 counties, TNECD categorizes 32 as “at-risk” and 10 as “distressed.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Big Valley Brands, LLC Worker” by TNECD.
